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ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 
a hostess when her society friends tell her what 
a delightful affair it has been, and what a 
wonderful time they have had. 
The next animals to entertain us were two 
giraffes. The children gazed at the strange, 
timid, sad-eyed creatures in speechless amaze¬ 
ment. We fed them with biscuits, and they 
followed us about sighing softly. I wondered 
if it would make any difference to a giraffe 
whether his tea was strong or hot. I was sure 
that it would lose its strength and arrive in his 
stomach as iced tea, no matter how hot it started. 
We all thought the giraffes the saddest creatures 
under the sun. Perhaps they are sensitive about 
their shape,—poor things. 
The climax of happiness came when we all 
climbed up on the massive back of Alice, the 
kindliest of elephants, and she carried us round 
the ring, her long, swinging, heaving, pounding 
stride filling us with delicious anxiety. It took 
a good deal of persuasion to make the children 
dismount. They adored Alice. They wanted to 
pat her broad forehead, which she wrinkled 
thoughtfully when she looked at us. She took 
the bread we gave her indifferently, as much as 
to say, “I am not hungry, but I will eat it to 
show my appreciation of your kindness.” She 
seemed to realize that I was different from the 
others. Elephants are very intelligent. I sup¬ 
pose Alice observed the uncertain movement of 
my hands. At any rate, she scrutinized me 
intently, and caressed my face, my shoulder 
and even my foot lightly with her trunk! 
Every one was surprised at her affectionate 
manner towards me, although they knew she 
was kindly disposed and trustworthy. 
All too soon the time came for saying good¬ 
bye to the friends who had done so much to 
make our visit to the Zoological Park a memor¬ 
able event in our lives. The children were very 
tired, but bubbling over with the joy of their 
discoveries. 
‘‘It’s just like Noah’s Ark,” said one. “What 
a jolly time the animals must have had visiting 
one another!” exclaimed another. “I suppose 
they did, but really I wasn’t there, you know,” 
said Katherine, the eldest. “Perhaps the little 
animals were frightened when the lions and 
bears thought about their supper,” suggested 
the youngest child. “I like the Zoo better than 
the circus because the animals look so happy 
in their pretty houses,” declared Pat, “and be¬ 
sides, it’s more fun than all the rest of New 
York put together.” 
As the children chattered, I realized as never 
before what an important part of the educational 
system of New York the Zoological Park is. It 
is crammed with instruction and entertainment 
for young and old. For the city child it is the 
very breath of the woods. There he may observe 
animals gathered from all over the world. There 
he may study, not only what is going on at the 
present day, but also what has been evolved 
through vast periods of time. There the thought¬ 
ful catch glimpses of the immensity and wonder 
of life which lie close to our feeble senses un¬ 
apprehended. It stimulates a desire for knowl¬ 
edge, it fosters an inquiring spirit and inculcates 
a less arrogant attitude in the face of the great 
Unknown. To the investigator it says, “Push 
the infinite as far as you can. You can always 
push it farther. Do not fear. 
’Veil after veil will lift, but there must be 
Veil after veil behind.’ ” 
VENOMOUS SNAKES AND ANTI-VENOMOUS SERUMS * 
By Raymond L. Ditmars 
Curator of Reptiles, Zoological Park 
A S hiking, camping and long-distance au¬ 
tomobile touring are phases of outdoor 
diversion that have become nation-wide 
and are gathering tens of thousands of recruits 
each year, there is a steadily increasing hazard 
of bites from poisonous snakes. The writer 
has noted marked increase in reports of snake¬ 
bites as well as a mounting series of queries 
relating to antidotes. It is also of interest 
to observe that witli the conservation of forest 
*Snake Farm Pictures by Pathe. 
areas and systematic protection from fire in 
many areas Nature is setting her family in 
order, and the smaller wild creatures are again 
taking possession. Despite our objection, the 
venomous snakes are a part of the natural 
plan and are increasing along with the others. 
As we have established an institution prac¬ 
tically interested in all reptilian problems, and 
as the writer has had rather wide experience 
with reptiles, the present article is intended 
to review tins subject and explain the hope 
